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'''Elephants''' are three species of very large mammals belonging to the family Elephantidae - the only extant family belonging to the order Proboscidea. The three elephant species currently recognized  by scientists are the African [[Bush]] Elephant (''Loxodonta africana''), the African [[Forest]] Elephant (''Loxodonta cyclotis''), and the Asian, or Indian, Elephant (''Elephas maximus''). Centuries of hunting elephants for their ivory has reduced the population of these animals. Renewed efforts at stewardship have caused a population boom, with the number of elephants in Africa alone tripling in the last decade.

'''Elephants''' are three species of large land mammals belonging to the family Elephantidae - the only extant family belonging to the order Proboscidea. The three elephant species currently recognized  by scientists are the African [[Bush]] Elephant (''Loxodonta africana''), the African [[Forest]] Elephant (''Loxodonta cyclotis''), and the Asian, or Indian, Elephant (''Elephas maximus''). Centuries of hunting elephants for their ivory has reduced the population of these animals. Renewed efforts at stewardship have caused a population boom, with the number of elephants in Africa alone tripling in the last decade.

Elephants are the largest land animals alive today. Apart from their massive size their most striking features are a long trunk, or proboscis, a flexible nose strong enough to lift objects, their huge [[ivory]] tusks, and their large flapping ears, used to keep them cool.

Elephants are the largest land animals alive today. Apart from their massive size their most striking features are a long trunk, or proboscis, a flexible nose strong enough to lift objects, their huge [[ivory]] tusks, and their large flapping ears, used to keep them cool.

Bull elephants, when inclined to mate, enter a frenzied state called ''musth''; they fight with each other for possession of the cow elephants, and become a menace to everything in their path; many humans are killed at this time. Elephants' gestation period, at 22 months, is the longest of any land mammal. At birth it is common for an elephant calf to weigh 120 kg (265 lb). An elephant may live as long as 70 years, sometimes longer.

Bull elephants, when inclined to mate, enter a frenzied state called ''musth''; they fight with each other for possession of the cow elephants, and become a menace to everything in their path; many humans are killed at this time. Elephants' gestation period, at 22 months, is the longest of any land mammal. At birth it is common for an elephant calf to weigh 120 kg (265 lb). An elephant may live as long as 70 years, sometimes longer.

The largest elephant ever recorded (the Fenykovi elephant, now in the [[Smithsonian Institution]]) was shot in [[Angola]] in 1954. It was male and weighed about 10.7 tonnes (12 U.S. tons), with a shoulder height of 4 metres (13 feet, 2 inches). <ref>http://www.cardcow.com/151863/african-bush-elephant-animals-elephants/</ref>

The largest elephant ever recorded (the Fenykovi elephant, now in the [[Smithsonian Institution]]) was shot in [[Angola]] in 1954<ref>http://siarchives.si.edu/history/exhibits/thisday/march.htm</ref>. It was male and weighed about 10.7 tonnes (12 U.S. tons), with a shoulder height of 4 metres (13 feet, 2 inches). <ref>http://www.cardcow.com/151863/african-bush-elephant-animals-elephants/</ref>

==Uses of Elephants==

==Uses of Elephants==